THE
PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
JOHN
BUNYAN
Section
3
Loses
his burden at the Cross - Simple,
Sloth, Presumption, Formalist, Hypocrisy - hill
Difficulty - the Arbour - misses his roll - the
palace Beautiful - the lions - talk with Discretion, Piety, Prudence, and
Charity - wonders shown to Christian
ABOUT
THE LORD OF THE HILL
Now
I saw in my dream, that thus they sat talking together until
supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down to eat. Now the
table was furnished with fat things, and with wine that was well refined;
and all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the hill: namely,
about what he had done; and wherefore he did what he did; and why he had
builded that house. And by what they said, I perceived that he had been a
great warrior, and had fought with and slain him that had the power of
death;
"Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself
likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that
had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through
fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Hebrews
2:14, 15
but not without great danger to himself, which
made me love him the more.
For, as they said, and as I believe (said
CHRISTIAN), he did it with the loss of much blood; but that which put glory
of grace into all he did, was, that he did it out of pure love for his
country. And besides, there were some of them of the household that said
they had seen and spoke with him since he did die on the cross; and they
have attested that they had it from his own lips, that he is such a lover of
poor pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the east to the west.
They moreover gave an instance of what they affirmed, and that was,
he had stripped himself of his glory that he might do this for the poor; and
that they heard him say and affirm that he would not dwell in the
Mountain
of
Zion
alone. They said, moreover, that he had made many pilgrims princes, though
by nature they were beggars born, and their original had been the dunghill.
"He
raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from
the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the
throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he
hath set the world upon them." 1 Samuel 2:8
"He
raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the
dunghill;" Psalm 113:7
Thus they discoursed together till late at
night; and after they had committed themselves to their Lord for protection,
they betook themselves to rest. The pilgrim they laid in a large upper
chamber, whose window opened towards the sun rising; the name of the chamber
was Peace, where he slept till break of day; and then he awoke and sang –
"Where
am I now? is this the love and care
Of Jesus for the men that pilgrims are,
Thus to provide? That I should be forgiven!
And dwell already the next door to heaven!"
THE
RARITIES OF "BEAUTIFUL"
So
in the morning they all got up;
and after some more discourse, they told him that he should not depart till
they had showed him the rarities of that place. And first they had him into
the study, where they showed him records of the greatest antiquity; in
which, as I remember my dream, they showed him the first pedigree of the
Lord of the hill, that he was the Son of the Ancient of Days, and came by an
eternal generation. Here also were more fully recorded the acts that he had
done; and the names of many hundreds that he had taken into his service; and
how he had placed them in such habitations that could neither by length of
days, nor decays of nature, be dissolved.
Then they read to him some of the worthy acts
that some of his servants had done. As how they had "subdued kingdoms,
wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword; out of
weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the
armies of the aliens".
"Who
through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises,
stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge
of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight,
turned to flight the armies of the aliens." Hebrews 11:33, 34
Then they read again in another part of the
records of the house, where it was showed how willing their Lord was to
receive into his favour any, even any, though they in time past had offered
great affronts to his person and proceedings. Here also were several other
histories of many other famous things, all of which CHRISTIAN had a view. As
of things both ancient and modern; together with prophecies and predictions
of things that have their certain accomplishment, both to the dread and
amazement of enemies, and the comfort and solace of pilgrims.
The next day they took him and had him into the
armoury; where they showed him all manner of furniture, which their Lord had
provided for pilgrims: sword, shield, helmet, breastplate, all-prayer, and
shoes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harness
out as many men for the service of their Lord as there be stars in the
heaven for multitude.
They also showed him some of the instruments
with which some of his servants had done wonderful things. They showed him
Moses' rod; the hammer and nail with which Jael slew Sisera; the pitchers,
trumpets, and lamps too, with which Gideon put to flight the armies of
Midian. Then they showed him the ox's goad wherewith Shamgar slew six
hundred men. They showed him also the jawbone with which Samson did such
mighty feats; they showed him, moreover, the sling and stone with which
David slew Goliath of Gath; and the sword, also, with which their Lord will
kill the man of sin, in the day that he shall rise up to the prey. They
showed him besides many excellent things, with which CHRISTIAN was much
delighted. This done, they went to their rest again.
Then I saw in my dream, that on the morrow he
got up to go forward; but they desired him to stay till the next day also,
and then, said they, we will, if the day be clear, show you the Delectable
Mountains; which, they said, would yet further add to his comfort, because
they were nearer the desired haven than the place where at present he was.
So he consented and stayed. When the morning was up, they had him to the top
of the house, and bid him look south; so he did: and behold, at a great
distance
"He
shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of
rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes
shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very
far off." Isaiah 33:16, 17
he saw a most pleasant mountainous country,
beautiful with woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also; with
springs and fountains, very delectable to behold. Then he asked the name of
the country. They said it was Immanuel's Land; and it is as common, said
they, as this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest
there, from thence, said they, thou mayest see to the gate of the Celestial
City, as the shepherds that live there will make appear.
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Section 4 - Valley of Humiliation
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Contents
